Intolerance Results

Today the York test results arrived. The only food substance I showed an intolerance to was Yeast. Upon reading the results I didn't know whether to be over joyed or disappointed, prehaps I had expected more.

Some notable foods that contain Yeast are: Beer, Cider, Wine, Bread, Pastries, Soya Sauce, and vinegar (notice the inclusion of the alcoholic beverages first).

This all falls inline with my own discoveries about which foods disagree with me. Now that I am more informed, a concise effort to avoid these foods can begin.

I will monitor my progress, and perhaps re-introduce dairy into my diet... Looks like I will be sticking to the Rum and Vodka.

P.S Crohns suffers seem to have intolerances to different food substances, so if you have Crohns it doesn't mean that you also have a Yeast intolerance. I will post my results from the Yeast free diet, and if warranted recommend the intolerance test.

Self Mutilation

This week my very kind Auntie has purchased me an intolerance test. To conduct the test you have to jab your finger with a miniscule needle to draw some blood then soak it up with the provided magic wand, hence the picture and title of this post.

The whole procedure wasn't that bad, but I must admit to being a bit of a pussy. Drawing my own blood is not something I am practiced in, and I found the whole experience very strange. Needles no problem, camera on a tub up your bum, piece of piss and the drugs are great. Barium chalk drink, perhaps a little difficult. Colonic irrigation, interesting when administered by a hot nurse.

Anyways, I await my long list of things to stay away from. Hopefully there will be nothing to severe, like, oxygen or sun light.

The Results to Follow :)

Back in the Days

Things are going kind of well at the moment, so I am going to tell you about my Crohns experiences as a youth.

The Crohns has manifested itself in several ways from when I first experienced problems. When I was young I used to be a healthy chubby lad. Full of beans and boundless energy. When I hit my mid teens I found myself being constantly fatigued. My appetite dropped off over the years and I begin to loose weight. At the age of 15/16 I was very ill. Keeping food down was very hard and my weight plummeted.

All this was very frightening, as I had not been diagnosed with anything. One doctor blamed my condition on eating citrus fruit the night before?!? Contemplations of eating disorder even crossed my mind.

Eventually I was diagnosed with Crohns whilst I was in hospital just before my GCSEs. My weight had dropped to under 8 stone. Keeping food down was impossible, even digesting water was hard. The one freind who visited me whilst I was in hospital will never be forgotten.

Finally they had diagnosed me correctly! Steroids were prescribed, which suck, and I hate, but they did kick off a recovery. Eventually I was put on Azathioprine, which helps me a lot and I still take it today. Along the way I was also given some crazy Nestle protein style drink called, E(something), this tasted crap, but did provide some nutrition.

In my late teens I was learning to live with the illness. Keeping stuff down, especially beer was a struggle. My weight was still poor, and I was constantly knackered, eventually being given the short lived nick name of monging bur.

Growing up with Crohns isn't easy, but I never let that stop me fur fill my ambitions or from having fun.

Good Times

I am actually feeling quite good at the moment. The Crohns plan is being followed, but I have added a new rule.

1. Stay away from Bread and wheat

My auntie has also put me onto an intolerance test, called the York test. I have posted a message on a Crohns forum to see if anyone has tried it. From reading the forum I have learnt that most people find that different things flare up their Crohns.

Recently I got a bit of a fright when reading Whisky's Crohns blog. She was mentioning something called a fistula. Apparently people with Crohns can develop wholes in their body!!!!!!!!! FREAK OUT!

Hopefully I won't be getting one of these.. Gots to stay of the smoking and be a good boy.

My Crohns Plan

For while I have been trying to follow my new Crohns plan in a quest to improve my condition.

The Crohns Plan
1. Trial Aloeride for two months
2. Continue not to smoke, and don't drink to much
3. Eat live Yoghurt
4. Stay away from Cow milk and Cheese. Try Goat substitute and Rice Dream
5. Drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day, and go easy on the tea and coffee
6. Take Omega 3 oil

The inspiration for these new lifestyle guidelines was an article on the Aloeride site. Aleoride is an alternative medicine which featured in an article that my Mum collected for me. Seen as I am a born skeptic, especially when a girly mag is recommending I purchase something, I am amazed I made the initial purchase.

The new plan has helped, but it is hard to say which measures are helping most.. Apart from staying off the smoking - As I know this is the way forward....

Still not feeling to crash hot at the moment, hoping to feel better soon as I have been following the plan well.

Crimson action

Had a freaky experience this week. When looking down into the toilet bowl, as you do when you have active Crohns, I was confronted with a bowel full of deep crimson blood. Previously I have seen blood, mainly on the paper, but to see all this dark red claret was not a nice experience. Luckily for anyone reading this I haven't yet purchase a new digital camera, otherwise i might have treated you to an image.

The not smoking had been going well, then came the weekend and I wasn't strong enough to cope whilst drinking. My friend said, "you know the answer to that then", I imagine he meant stop drinking as well... It could be done.